Margaret Atwood's Notes Toward A Poem That Can Never Be Written

“[Women] are not an afterthought of nature, they are not secondary players in human destiny, and every society has always known that” (“Margaret Atwood on What 'The Handmaid's Tale' Means in the Age of Trump”). Margaret Atwood’s reputation for writing about the value of women in society is emphasized in her March 2017 opinion piece in the New York Times. In the article, Atwood highlights her ideas that women are not “secondary” to men, illustrating her support for women in prominent roles. In fact, much of Margaret Atwood’s work advocates for the recognition of female influence in society, as her writings feature female protagonists shaping “human destiny.” Just as her frequent usage of powerful female characters creates unique storylines,

“Notes towards a Poem That Can Never Be Written” describes the horrors of today’s human rights violations. It discusses how there are no words to appropriately describe the violence against humans around the world. However, the poem repeatedly stresses the fact that the issues of human rights violations must be addressed. Atwood utilizes both a metaphor and simile when she writes,“Elsewhere, this poem must be written / as if you are already dead” (“Notes towards a Poem That Can Never Be Written” 69-70). Although she talks about the “poem,” the work addresses the violations of human rights. By saying that the “poem must be written,” Atwood recognizes the necessity of confronting the suffering and violence against humans around the world. Additionally, the simile of writing the poem “as if you are already dead” implies Atwood believes people should fight for human rights without hesitation. Most people are afraid of death, so if people are already dead, then they have nothing to lose. Atwood’s beliefs statements are repeated in the Amnesty International mission: “We speak out for anyone and everyone whose freedom and dignity are under threat” (“Who We Are”). Atwood is known to have worked extensively with Amnesty International and repeats the beliefs of the organization in her writing. The impact of Atwood’s collaboration with other writers is also apparent in the poem. When describing the global reaction to human suffering, Atwood claims, “We make wreaths of adjectives for them, / we count them like beads” (“Notes towards a Poem That Can Never Be Written” 17-18). Instead of mourning the loss of humans, Atwood notices that those who suffer are transformed into “adjectives” and “beads,” who loss is not